Downtown Vicksburg should not become another Beale Street or Bourbon Street, members of the Main Street Board and downtown business owners agreed Tuesday, opting to seek a calmer atmosphere than party-hardy venues in Memphis and New Orleans.

The board voted to endorse the notion of creating a new zoning designation for nightclubs and bars and allow them to exist by special exception only.

A food-to-alcohol sales ratio would define a nightclub as deriving more than 40 percent of its revenue from controlled beverages.

The promotional group’s suggestion mirrors the Zoning Board of Appeals view. Mayor Laurence Leyens’ initially proposed a 75-25 ratio.

Main Street’s action moves the revision forward to the Mayor and Aldermen, who are poised to adopt it.

&#8220It allows us more control over who’s doing what, and we’re just trying to create a harmonious environment downtown,” said Mayor Laurence Leyens.

Liquor licenses are obtained through the state Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control – leaving city governments no power over who is allowed to serve alcohol. The city does license beer sales.

Leyens said the idea is meant to deal with complaints that nightclub patrons have been unruly and threatening when they congregate on Washington Street.

The ordinance would not have any effect on restaurants or bars now operating, but any new business proposing to be based completely or almost completely on selling alcoholic beverages would have to seek the city’s permission in addition to matching existing zoning criteria.

Police reports say some of that has taken place outside the New New Orleans Cafe at Washington and Grove streets. The club has not been open since its owner, Timothy Tillman, was arrested on drug charges Aug. 8.

Alderman Michael Mayfield said problems go beyond one club, but that night life needed to be kept under control.

&#8220I don’t like the fact that they’re finding a way to wrap it around the neck of the New New Orleans Cafe. There were problems downtown long before,” he said.

Mayfield said he would prefer a 50-50 ratio to give businesses more leeway, but &#8220If (Main Street Board) is satisfied with 60-40, then I will vote for it.”

Excluding nightclubs won’t disrupt the administration’s efforts to promote downtown vibrancy and tourism, said Alderman Sid Beauman.

&#8220Our tourism is a lot more family-based,” Beauman said.

He said it will remain to be seen whether he would vote to award an exception if one is sought. &#8220Anything with a special exception is on a case-by-case basis,” he said.

Laura Weeks, who last year began living above Lorelei Books, which she owns at 1103 Washington St., was dismayed when loud partying began keeping her awake at 2 and 3 a.m. this summer.

Things were a whole lot better, she recalled, in the place she lived before: tourist hot-spot Virginia Beach. She said banning nightclubs would be a good move because it would encourage entrepreneurs to bring good food to Vicksburg – but she also said steady police presence downtown would make her feel safer.

&#8220I’ve had extra people downtown for the past six or eight weeks,”

Police Chief Tommy Moffett said this morning, &#8220When it was evident there was a problem, we’ve had people there.”

Rob Ware, owner of The Ware House, a hotel and bar in the 1400 block of Washington Street, said he favored the restriction.

Oversight could give the city more power to craft its own vision for the downtown district he said.

&#8220There’s no way to regulate how good or responsible a business owner is going to be,” said Ware. &#8220It’s just wise planning.”

Harry Sharp, the owner of more than one downtown building and chairman of the Main Street Board of Directors, said he recused himself because of his ownership.

However, he said this morning he supports the board’s decision and he believes a lack of nightclubs downtown could hamper efforts to make the area more vibrant.